Mr. Mu was determined today, closely watching as the fourth branch ate first, followed by the second branch, with the fifth last.

Several times in between, Old Mrs. Mu suggested letting Xiangxiang come in to eat, but was rejected each time.

Angry, Old Mrs. Mu stopped eating and headed straight for the kitchen.

Since her husband wouldn’t feed Xiangxiang, she would cook for Xiangxiang herself.

In the courtyard, Old Mrs. Mu comforted Mu Xiangxiang extensively, looking at the filthy Mu Xiangxiang. Not only did she not find her shabby, she felt heartache.

"Dear daughter, let’s not cry. Your second sister is missing now; your brother and you are mother’s heart and soul. If you don’t want to work, you won’t work. I’ll cook for you separately every day, okay?"

Mu Xiangxiang used her hand to wipe her nose and nodded vigorously.

Old Mrs. Mu’s heart ached even more.

"My dear girl, I’ll cook for you now. What do you want to eat?" asked Old Mrs. Mu.

"Eggs, mom, I want four eggs!"

Mu Xiangxiang boldly demanded.

If it were someone else, eating so many eggs, Old Mrs. Mu would definitely slap them, making their nose and face swollen.

But this was her favorite daughter. Even if it were forty eggs, Old Mrs. Mu wouldn’t feel it was too much.

"Promise me you won’t cry anymore, and I’ll go find eggs for you."

Old Mrs. Mu used the word "find" because when Mu Dade came home, the only two egg-laying hens were used to nourish him.

Plus for those few days, the eldest was having major and minor supplements every two days; the eggs were gone.

"Thanks, mom, Xiangxiang loves you the most!" Mu Xiangxiang hugged Old Mrs. Mu’s face and gave her a smacking kiss.

Old Mrs. Mu’s mouth instantly bloomed into a smile.

Encouraged by her daughter’s love, Old Mrs. Mu felt like a mother hen ready to win a battle.

She hurried to the third branch of the Mu Family.

She knew the third branch kept their only hen beside the pigsty.

Having a smooth path to the chicken coop, Old Mrs. Mu carefully reached into the third branch’s chicken coop and touched two eggs.

Those were eggs laid by the hen over two days, forgotten by Yu Si Niang amidst her busy autumn harvest tasks.

Although not four eggs, two were better than none.

Old Mrs. Mu pocketed the eggs and walked towards the Old Mu Family’s side as if nothing had happened.

The people from the third branch were having lunch in the kitchen, with Mu Shuangshuang facing away from the kitchen entrance, while Mu Dashan was the opposite.

So within the third branch, only Mu Dashan saw Old Mrs. Mu’s figure and spoke in confusion.

"Huh, isn’t that Shuangshuang’s grandma? Why is she wandering in our yard?"

Old Mrs. Mu ran quickly, even with bound feet, it did not affect her speed.

Just as Mu Shuangshuang turned around, Old Mrs. Mu disappeared from sight.

"Dad, are you sure you didn’t see wrong, was it really my grandma?"

Mu Shuangshuang knew Old Mrs. Mu well, if she came to the third branch, it would either be to scold or cause trouble.

There was no way she would come and leave quietly, there must be something fishy!

"Shuangshuang’s father, could it be like Shuangshuang said, you really saw wrong? It’s lunchtime, she should be eating over there." Yu Si Niang joined Mu Shuangshuang in agreement.

Both the mother and daughter knew Old Mrs. Mu’s nature, it’s impossible for her to come quietly.

"Definitely not a mistake. That’s definitely Shuangshuang’s grandma. Though she was in a hurry, her figure and walking posture were unmistakably hers," Mu Dashan said with certainty.

Mu Shuangshuang furrowed her brows, suddenly she thought of something.

"Mom, is our hen still there?"

Yu Si Niang was startled and rushed towards the pigsty.

Upon seeing the empty chicken coop, Yu Si Niang was overwhelmed.

She hurried back to the kitchen, looking like she was about to cry.

"We’re in trouble, our two eggs are gone."

"What? Shuangshuang’s mother, what happened, explain slowly," Mu Dashan hurriedly asked.

"I was too busy yesterday, didn’t pick eggs from yesterday. Today I went to the fields for harvesting rice, came back at noon, and was busy cooking. I thought I’d pick them when washing dishes later...

It’s all my fault, I failed to pay attention; now the two eggs are gone."

Two eggs aren’t a significant number, only worth one penny.

But for the third branch, they’re excellent nutrition for the kids.

Xiao Han and Little Zhi were growing, not possible to have meat every meal, so Mu Shuangshuang asked Yu Si Niang to save up three eggs to make steamed egg pudding for the siblings.

Now that the eggs were gone, everyone’s mood was down.

Mu Shuangshuang stood up: "It’s definitely my grandma who took them. I was wondering why she would quietly come to our house; turns out she came to steal something. I’m going to find her."

"Shuangshuang, we don’t have evidence, can’t call your grandma a thief, and... even if you chase her out, she won’t admit it’s ours," Yu Si Niang stopped Mu Shuangshuang from going out.

"Dad, what do you think?" Mu Shuangshuang directed her gaze at Mu Dashan.

"Shuangshuang, your mom is right, your grandma is the elder, we can’t accuse her of being a thief because of two eggs!

Moreover, your mom has been through this. When she first married in, everything was taken by your grandma, leaving only a featherless chicken.

Back then, your mom said she’d use it to nourish herself after you were born, but when your grandma learned, she took the chicken overnight, cooked it into soup for your uncle.

Your mom tried to demand it back, but didn’t get it and almost got beaten up..."

Mu Dashan spoke with a hint of choking up.

His wife had been unappreciated from that time.

Mu Shuangshuang didn’t know that such an incident revealed such a piece of history.

But it also indicated that Old Mrs. Mu wasn’t doing this for the first time; she was a habitual offender.

Even taking things from her daughter-in-law, what a rarity.

But of course, she probably wouldn’t see it as theft, but as a son’s and daughter’s-in-law offering.

Lu Yuanfeng listened silently beside them.

This matter was Shuangshuang’s family affair; he shouldn’t interfere.

Besides, he was a man; he couldn’t manage women’s affairs.

But he could devise a plan.

"Shuangshuang, I’ll make a chicken coop for you when I get back. Let’s buy two more hens. Three hens laying eggs every day, then we won’t have to wait for a daily egg.

If we’re more careful, this won’t happen again. What do you think?" Lu Yuanfeng asked.

Though it was sound, Mu Shuangshuang couldn’t swallow down her anger.

"Fengzi, Dad and Mom, you eat first. I’m going to see what my grandma is doing with our eggs!"

"Shuangshuang..." Mu Dashan just opened his mouth when Lu Yuanfeng stopped him.

"Uncle, let Shuangshuang go. With her temperament, she won’t be able to bear it if she doesn’t see for herself." 𝙛𝒓𝓮𝒆𝔀𝒆𝙗𝓷𝒐𝙫𝒆𝙡.𝒄𝓸𝓶

Mu Dashan nodded.

His daughter’s temperament was indeed unlike his or Si Niang.

"Uncle, I’ll go see Shuangshuang. You eat first!"

Lu Yuanfeng stood up, greeted Mu Dashan and Yu Si Niang, then followed Shuangshuang towards the Old Mu Family’s direction—